asked the Minister for Defence if he will give the total number of personnel who have applied to buy out during each of the past six months, broken down by rank and technical qualification.

11.

asked the Minister for Defence the number of Army personnel who have (a) applied for and (b) been granted buy out facilities in the past few months.

25.

asked the Minister for Defence the number of Army personnel who purchased their discharge from the Army in (a) 1986 (b) 1987 (c) 1988 and (d) for the month of January 1989.

30.

asked the Minister for Defence the number of all ranks in the Army, Navy and Air Corps who applied to leave in the last six months; and the number of such applications, in each case, which were refused.

(Limerick West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 25 and 30 together.

Since 1 August 1988 a total of 37 officers of the Permanent Defence Force applied to retire voluntarily as follows: Army, 16; Air Corps, 20; and Naval Service 1.

Of the Air Corps officers, 13 were refused permission to retire voluntarily while seven applications are still under consideration. All other applications for voluntary retirement were granted. One Army officer applied for and was granted permission to resign.

With regard to other ranks, a total of 490 personnel were discharged during the period 1 August 1988 to 31 January 1989. A man has the absolute right to a discharge on completion of his engagement or by purchase except during an emergency. The question of refusing applications for discharge under these headings does not therefore arise. Defence Force regulations also provide other grounds under which a man may seek his discharge, e.g. on compassionate grounds, but no record is maintained of any refusal to grant such discharges.

The total number of personnel who were discharged by purchase from the Permanent Defence Force in 1986, 1987 and 1988 was 137, 268 and 274 respectively. The corresponding figure for January 1989 was 13. In the last six months a total of 138 personnel were discharged by purchase. This figure includes two sergeants, 15 corporals and 121 privates.

One of the sergeants was a radar-radio mechanic, the other had no trade. The 15 corporals included four who had no trade, three electrical artificers, three engine room artificers, two radar-radio mechanics, one shipwright, one aero mechanic and one military policeman. Seventy-eight privates had no trade, the remainder were as follows: 15 aero mechanics, seven drivers, five fitters, four armourers, two carpenters, two electricians, one butcher, one draughtsman, one painter, one radio mechanic, one radio operator, one joiner, one mechanic — Naval Service — and one telegraphist.

I must admit that the Minister has blinded me with science. I cannot follow the figures at all.

(Limerick West): I will help the Deputy.

It appears to me that an awful lot of people are trying to get out of the Army despite the employment position outside.

During the past six months almost 500 personnel have been discharged from the Defence Force and I put it to the Minister that this is a serious haemorrhage of members and amounts to a substantial increase on previous years. Is this a source of concern for the Minister?

(Limerick West): Not really, at about 82 per month it is no greater nor no smaller than the average for the past number of years.

Could the Minister indicate in respect of the specific question tabled by Deputy Mac Giolla how many members have applied to buy out following the increase in the fees charged?

(Limerick West): I do not seem to have that information. Is the Deputy asking about the increase in fees charged for the processing of applications for discharge?

Yes.

(Limerick West): I do not have that information. That regulation was only signed in the past two weeks.

Given that the number of discharges for the past six months is no greater nor no smaller than the average for the past number of years, why did the Minister increase the fees charged for the processing of an application for discharge?

(Limerick West): The Deputy is a bit confused. When their engagement is completed, after three years or six years, quite a number of men disengage themselves.

The Minister increased the fees charged.

(Limerick West): The increase in fees does not apply to line personnel leaving the Army. The increase only applies to technicians.

Did I hear the Minister say that 13 members were refused permission to leave the Air Corps? Perhaps the Minister would elaborate further on his policy which keeps 13 members in the Air Corps who obviously do not wish to remain and indicate if it is conducive to having a contented workforce.

(Limerick West): There is an obligation on me to ensure that the service which operates out of Baldonnel operates effectively. I set up a special committee within my Department who have now reported and whose decisions are being implemented. I hope the situation which the Deputy has outlined will not continue.

Let me ask one quick question. Why at this time did the Minister see fit to increase the fees charged given that there was no increase in the fees for eight to ten years?

(Limerick West): Again, the Deputy does not have the information nor is he concerned with the facts. The last increase took place in 1981.

Eight years ago.

(Limerick West): An increase in the fees charged was one of the recommendations of the pay review committee set up by me last June.

The results of which you will publish.

It was because the Minister saw them leaving.

Order, please, Deputies, let us hear the Minister's reply.

(Limerick West): The increase in fees only applies to technicians, such as airport technicians and others, whose training could cost the State anything between £50,000 and £70,000. When a technician has completed his engagement he does not have to pay any charge if he wishes to leave.

Most unconvincing. I put it to the Minister that he increased the fees because they were leaving the Army as a result of poor pay and conditions and that this was the only block he could put in their way.

(Limerick West): As I have already told the Deputy, the increase in fees does not apply to line personnel who wish to discharge themselves from the Army. The increase applies only to technicians.